Superbugs are becoming ‘untreatable’ doctors warn

The problem will threaten even the most basic hospital treatments that will become highly dangerous without effective antibiotics, it was warned.

Writing in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, she said: “The demise of antibacterial drug discovery brings the spectre of untreatable infections. To prevent this crisis immediate action is needed.”

The article coincidences with European Antibiotics Awareness Day and new data showing the increase in antibiotic resistant superbugs in Europe. Similar campaigns are also being launched in America and Canada.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer, said: “Many antibiotics are currently prescribed and used when they don’t need to be – meaning antibiotics lose their effectiveness at a rapidly increasing rate.

“It is important we use antibiotics in the right way if we are to get the best outcome for the patient, slow down resistance and make sure these important medicines continue to stay effective for ourselves and for future generations.”

Meanwhile, a survey has found half of those who go to their GP with coughs, colds, flu or a sore throat, expect to be given antibiotics.

Most of these illnesses are caused by viruses which cannot be treated with antibiotics and improper use of the drugs is fuelling resistance it was warned.

Existing infections are becoming increasingly resistant to established antibiotics but new bugs are also emerging such as the New Deli medallo which has been imported into Britain by patients who have had surgery in India.

Marc Sprenger, Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, said: “The need for concerted action to curb growing resistance to antibiotics is now critical with the establishment of resistance to the last line of antibiotics being reported to ECDC from several European countries for the first time.

“Failure to act will mean that treatment options for patients with bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections in hospitals will be severely limited.”

Antibiotics must be used more prudently and pharmaceutical companies must invest in new drugs, it was warned.

In England the Health Protection Agency monitors antibiotic resistant bugs and is concerned at the rise of Enterobacteriaceae (bacteria that mostly cause infections in hospitals) which are resistant to ‘carbapenems,’ are powerful penicillin-like antibiotics used to treat difficult infections caused by bacteria already resistant to standard antibiotics.

This type of resistance was first found in the UK in 2003 and there were just a handful of cases each year until 2008.

In 2008 there were 22 cases but this had increased to 657 so far this year.

Many of the early cases were imported involved bacteria imported via patients transferred from Greece, Israel and both India and Pakistan but there is now evidence some of these bugs are spreading locally within Britain.

In England the Health Protection Agency has monitored the rise in certain antibiotic resistant bugs. One, called Enterobacteriaceae was first found to be resistant to antibiotics in 2003 and there were just a handful of cases each year until 2008.

In 2008 there were 22 cases but this had increased to 657 so far this year.

It is thought the first cases were imported on patients from America, Greece and Israel but there is now evidence the bugs are spreading freely within Britain.

Dr Cliodna McNulty, the HPA’s head of primary care and lead on European Antibiotic Awareness Day, said: “Although most bacterial infections are still susceptible to antibiotics there are a number of bacteria which are developing resistance to the antibiotics that we have available.

“By being aware of when antibiotics are needed or not we can foster a better attitude towards them and save these precious resources.

“Preserving the continued efficacy of our precious antibiotics has to be a priority.

“Health professionals need to learn to resist demands from patients for treatments they know have little or no effect on coughs and colds. Our research showed that 97 per cent of those questioned said that the last time they asked their GP or nurse for an antibiotic they were prescribed one.”

HPA’s ‘top ten tips’ for understanding antibiotics:

1. Most coughs and colds will get better on their own without antibiotics, and antibiotics will not hasten your recovery.

2. Discuss the pros and cons of antibiotics with your doctor – they will be able to assess whether you need them.

3. Coughing up phlegm on its own is not a reason to need an antibiotic – even if it is yellow.

4. When you have a sore throat with a runny nose with phlegm it suggests that the infection is less likely to respond to antibiotics.

5. If you have a high temperature, with a really red or purulent (the presence of pus) throat and feel really ill this may be an indication for antibiotics.

6. HPA research shows that some people stop their course of antibiotics early which might indicate that they didn’t need them in the first place.

7. Always take all the doses each day and finish the course – this is typically only five days. Otherwise you encourage the emergence of resistant strains.

8. Never keep any leftover antibiotics in the cupboard for later use, an antibiotic prescribed for one infection may not be appropriate for the next.

9. If you had an antibiotic last time you had a respiratory tract infection, this time ask your doctor about a delayed antibiotic prescription which you take only if your symptoms get worse or do not get better within the expected time for that illness – that way you will not be taking antibiotics unnecessarily but if you do need them you can get them later.

10. Remember, antibiotics in certain situations can be lifesavers – so if you or your child are very ill – do visit your doctor for advice.